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Retrospective cohort study of workers of a synthetic textiles plant in quebec: 1. General mortality
Lung Cancer Risk and Welding - Preliminary Results from an Ongoing CaseControl Study. K.-H. Jockel, W Ahrens, and U. Bolm-Audorff. American Medicine, 25(6), 805-812.
Journal
of
In a hospital-based case-control study, 391 male cases of primary lung cancer and the same number of controls - matched by sex, age, and region - were personally interviewed for their job and smoking histories. The data reported reflect the midpoint of a study aiming at a total of 1,000 cases. One objective of the study was to assess confounding by asbestos exposure in what was thought to be a welding-associated risk. While the odds ratios (OR) increased steeply with cumulative exposure to tobacco smoke and were raised also for lifelong asbestos exposure of over 4,100 working hours (OR = 1.91), the effect of welding exposure was reduced after adjustment for smoking and exposure to asbestos. Furthermore, no consistent doseresponse relationship could be shown in relation to welding hours. Therefore the present study supports the hypothesis that some, if not all, of the excess risk of welders observed in the literature may be due to the exposure to asbestos. The finding that the subgroup of employees in the aircraft industry showed an increased odds ratio of 2.14 after adjustment for smoking and exposure to asbestos deserves further attention. This suggests the need for further research on the role of beryllium-containing alloys, which has been suggested by other authors. Dust- and Function Symptoms Industry.
Endotoxin-Related Acute Lung Changes and Work-Related in Workers in the Animal Feed i? Smid, D. Heederik, R. Houba,
and P. H. Quanjer. American Journal Industrial Medicine, 25(6), 877-888.
of
Reported respiratory and related symptoms during work were compared between 265 exposed animal feed workers and a control group consisting of 175 external controls and nonexposed workers in the animal feed industry. Symptoms indicating respiratory and nasal irritation were significantly increased in the animal feed industry. Symptoms indicat60
ing respiratory and nasal irritation were significantly increased in the animal feed workers. Prevalences ranged from 9% (cough) to 21% (sneezing). Reported cough after work was also significantly increased. In 119 workers, a total of 457 across-shift spirometric lung function changes were measured. Almost all lung function variables showed a decrease during the work shift, as could be expected since the circadian rhythm is in a downward phase during the measurement period (2 p.m.-10 p.m.). When the workers were grouped into dust and endotoxin exposure categories according to their job titles, and exposure-response trend was seen for maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) and maximum expiratory flow rate at 50% of vital capacity (MEFSO). The effect of endotoxin was stronger than that of dust, both in magnitude and significance. For the same lung function variables and for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEVl) and MEF25, a significant across-week change was also detected. The results of this study are in concordance with other studies that indicate acute effects on lung function and elevated prevalences of respiratory symptoms during work caused by exposure to grain dust. Retrospective Cohort Study of Workers of a Synthetic Textiles Plant in Quebec: 1. General Mortality. M. S. Goldberg and G. Theriault. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 25(6), 889-907.
This paper presents results from a retrospective cohort study of workers of a synthetic textiles plant in Quebec. This plant has been the subject of a previous case-control study, in which an excess risk of colorectal cancer was observed. The cohort consisted of 7,487 men and 2,724 women who had worked at least 1 year at the plant and who were either working in 1947 or were newly employed between 1947 and 1977. The period of followup was from 1947 to 1986, thus yielding 307,278 person-years of observation. Mortality rates for most causes of death were less than expected; the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for all causes of death among men was 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70-0.77) and among women it was Journal of Safety Research
0.77 (95%CI 0.68-0.87). For men, the SMR for all neoplasms was 0.76 (95%CI: 0.69-0.83) and for colorectal cancer it was 0.69 (95%CI: 0.52-0.92). For women, the SMR for all neoplasms was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.83-1.22) and for colorectal cancer it was 1.02 (95%CI: 0.57-1.69). Among men, risks for ischemic heart disease increased with increasing length of service at the plant, even though the SMRs were less than unity (overall SMR = 0.76; 95%CI: 0.70-0.83); no trend was observed for women. SMRs and relative risks were also calculated according to duration of employment in each processing unit. Of the scores of associations tested, very few showed increased risks. Of those showing increased risks, the data were not persuasive in indicating a connection with work at the plant; nevertheless, some of these associations may be worth following up in future studies. The following associations of potential significance were observed: all cancers, liver and gallbladder cancers, nonHodgkin’s lymphomas, and reticulum cell sarcoma in the cellulose acetate fiber manufacturing unit; all cancers in the polyproplene and cellulose triacetate fiber manufacturing unit; all cancers in the polypropylene and cellulose triacetate extrusion unit and in the janitor unit; leukemias in the unexposed unit; ischemic heart disease in the maintenance and janitor units; and cerebrovascular disease in the weaving unit. Alcohol Dermatitis: Allergic Contact Dermatitis and Contact Urticaria Syndrome. S. Ophaswongse and H. I. Maibach. Contact Dermatitis, 30(l),
1-6.
In spite of not knowing the numbers of people exposed and obviously incomplete reporting, the known mechanisms of alcohol cutaneous intolerance and the literature classified according to mechanisms are listed. Testing techniques for delayed- and immediate-types are proposed. Public Safety Neurotoxic Effects of Gasoline and Gasoline Constituents. T. M. Burbacher. Spring
1995Nolume
26/Number
1
Environmental Health Perspectives ments, IOI(Supp1. 6), 133-141.
Supple-
This overview was developed as part of a symposium on noncancer end points of gasoline and key gasoline components. The specific components included are methyl tertiary butyl ether, ethyl tertiary butyl ether, tertiary amyl methyl ether, butadience, benzene, xylene, toluene, methyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol. The overview focuses on neurotoxic effects related to chronic low-level exposures. A few general conclusions and recommendations can be made based on the results of the studies to date. (a) All the components reviewed are neureactive and, as such, should be examined for their neurotoxicity. (b) For most of the compounds, there is a substantial margin of safety between the current permissible exposure levels and levels that would be expected to cause overt signs of neurotoxicity in humans. This is not the case for xylene, toluene, and methanol, however, where neurologic effects are observed at or below the current Threshold Limit Value. (c) For most of the compounds, the relationship between chronic low-level exposure and subtle neurotoxic effects has not been studied. Studies therefore should focus on examining the dose-response relationship between chronic low-level exposure and subtle changes in central nervous system function. Review of New Evidence Regarding the Relationship of Gasoline Exposure to Kidney Cancer and Leukemia. P. E. Enterline. Environmental Health Perspectives Supplements, 101 (Suppl. 6), 101 -I 03.
Four new or updated epidemiologic studies were presented at a meeting on the health effects of gasoline exposure held in Miami, Florida, November 5-8, 1991. A focus of these studies was whether there is a relationship between gasoline exposure and kidney cancer and leukemia. For gasoline distribution workers, who have relatively high exposure, there was some evidence for a kidney cancer relationship in three studies but none in the fourth. There was evidence for an acute myelocytic leukemia relationship in three studies. The fourth study dealt only with kidney cancer. It is possible that the benzene content of 61
Journal
of
In a hospital-based case-control study, 391 male cases of primary lung cancer and the same number of controls - matched by sex, age, and region - were personally interviewed for their job and smoking histories. The data reported reflect the midpoint of a study aiming at a total of 1,000 cases. One objective of the study was to assess confounding by asbestos exposure in what was thought to be a welding-associated risk. While the odds ratios (OR) increased steeply with cumulative exposure to tobacco smoke and were raised also for lifelong asbestos exposure of over 4,100 working hours (OR = 1.91), the effect of welding exposure was reduced after adjustment for smoking and exposure to asbestos. Furthermore, no consistent doseresponse relationship could be shown in relation to welding hours. Therefore the present study supports the hypothesis that some, if not all, of the excess risk of welders observed in the literature may be due to the exposure to asbestos. The finding that the subgroup of employees in the aircraft industry showed an increased odds ratio of 2.14 after adjustment for smoking and exposure to asbestos deserves further attention. This suggests the need for further research on the role of beryllium-containing alloys, which has been suggested by other authors. Dust- and Function Symptoms Industry.
Endotoxin-Related Acute Lung Changes and Work-Related in Workers in the Animal Feed i? Smid, D. Heederik, R. Houba,
and P. H. Quanjer. American Journal Industrial Medicine, 25(6), 877-888.
of
Reported respiratory and related symptoms during work were compared between 265 exposed animal feed workers and a control group consisting of 175 external controls and nonexposed workers in the animal feed industry. Symptoms indicating respiratory and nasal irritation were significantly increased in the animal feed industry. Symptoms indicat60
ing respiratory and nasal irritation were significantly increased in the animal feed workers. Prevalences ranged from 9% (cough) to 21% (sneezing). Reported cough after work was also significantly increased. In 119 workers, a total of 457 across-shift spirometric lung function changes were measured. Almost all lung function variables showed a decrease during the work shift, as could be expected since the circadian rhythm is in a downward phase during the measurement period (2 p.m.-10 p.m.). When the workers were grouped into dust and endotoxin exposure categories according to their job titles, and exposure-response trend was seen for maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) and maximum expiratory flow rate at 50% of vital capacity (MEFSO). The effect of endotoxin was stronger than that of dust, both in magnitude and significance. For the same lung function variables and for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEVl) and MEF25, a significant across-week change was also detected. The results of this study are in concordance with other studies that indicate acute effects on lung function and elevated prevalences of respiratory symptoms during work caused by exposure to grain dust. Retrospective Cohort Study of Workers of a Synthetic Textiles Plant in Quebec: 1. General Mortality. M. S. Goldberg and G. Theriault. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 25(6), 889-907.
This paper presents results from a retrospective cohort study of workers of a synthetic textiles plant in Quebec. This plant has been the subject of a previous case-control study, in which an excess risk of colorectal cancer was observed. The cohort consisted of 7,487 men and 2,724 women who had worked at least 1 year at the plant and who were either working in 1947 or were newly employed between 1947 and 1977. The period of followup was from 1947 to 1986, thus yielding 307,278 person-years of observation. Mortality rates for most causes of death were less than expected; the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for all causes of death among men was 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70-0.77) and among women it was Journal of Safety Research
0.77 (95%CI 0.68-0.87). For men, the SMR for all neoplasms was 0.76 (95%CI: 0.69-0.83) and for colorectal cancer it was 0.69 (95%CI: 0.52-0.92). For women, the SMR for all neoplasms was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.83-1.22) and for colorectal cancer it was 1.02 (95%CI: 0.57-1.69). Among men, risks for ischemic heart disease increased with increasing length of service at the plant, even though the SMRs were less than unity (overall SMR = 0.76; 95%CI: 0.70-0.83); no trend was observed for women. SMRs and relative risks were also calculated according to duration of employment in each processing unit. Of the scores of associations tested, very few showed increased risks. Of those showing increased risks, the data were not persuasive in indicating a connection with work at the plant; nevertheless, some of these associations may be worth following up in future studies. The following associations of potential significance were observed: all cancers, liver and gallbladder cancers, nonHodgkin’s lymphomas, and reticulum cell sarcoma in the cellulose acetate fiber manufacturing unit; all cancers in the polyproplene and cellulose triacetate fiber manufacturing unit; all cancers in the polypropylene and cellulose triacetate extrusion unit and in the janitor unit; leukemias in the unexposed unit; ischemic heart disease in the maintenance and janitor units; and cerebrovascular disease in the weaving unit. Alcohol Dermatitis: Allergic Contact Dermatitis and Contact Urticaria Syndrome. S. Ophaswongse and H. I. Maibach. Contact Dermatitis, 30(l),
1-6.
In spite of not knowing the numbers of people exposed and obviously incomplete reporting, the known mechanisms of alcohol cutaneous intolerance and the literature classified according to mechanisms are listed. Testing techniques for delayed- and immediate-types are proposed. Public Safety Neurotoxic Effects of Gasoline and Gasoline Constituents. T. M. Burbacher. Spring
1995Nolume
26/Number
1
Environmental Health Perspectives ments, IOI(Supp1. 6), 133-141.
Supple-
This overview was developed as part of a symposium on noncancer end points of gasoline and key gasoline components. The specific components included are methyl tertiary butyl ether, ethyl tertiary butyl ether, tertiary amyl methyl ether, butadience, benzene, xylene, toluene, methyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol. The overview focuses on neurotoxic effects related to chronic low-level exposures. A few general conclusions and recommendations can be made based on the results of the studies to date. (a) All the components reviewed are neureactive and, as such, should be examined for their neurotoxicity. (b) For most of the compounds, there is a substantial margin of safety between the current permissible exposure levels and levels that would be expected to cause overt signs of neurotoxicity in humans. This is not the case for xylene, toluene, and methanol, however, where neurologic effects are observed at or below the current Threshold Limit Value. (c) For most of the compounds, the relationship between chronic low-level exposure and subtle neurotoxic effects has not been studied. Studies therefore should focus on examining the dose-response relationship between chronic low-level exposure and subtle changes in central nervous system function. Review of New Evidence Regarding the Relationship of Gasoline Exposure to Kidney Cancer and Leukemia. P. E. Enterline. Environmental Health Perspectives Supplements, 101 (Suppl. 6), 101 -I 03.
Four new or updated epidemiologic studies were presented at a meeting on the health effects of gasoline exposure held in Miami, Florida, November 5-8, 1991. A focus of these studies was whether there is a relationship between gasoline exposure and kidney cancer and leukemia. For gasoline distribution workers, who have relatively high exposure, there was some evidence for a kidney cancer relationship in three studies but none in the fourth. There was evidence for an acute myelocytic leukemia relationship in three studies. The fourth study dealt only with kidney cancer. It is possible that the benzene content of 61